A Roanoke Rapids man was charged Sunday after an officer observed him going into and then leaving a known drug sales area in the Brandy Creek community.
Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said Officer Roy Ball watched a man later identified Michael Erwin Telliga, 39, go to 238 Maria Avenue, exit his car and then leave.
Ball stopped the vehicle and Telliga consented to a search, which yielded a marijuana pipe, a small bag of Xanax and a crack cocaine rock hidden in a cigarette pack.
Tellliga, of Washington Street, was charged with possession of schedule II, possession of schedule IV and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed on $1,000 bond and has a July 20 court date.
The 238 Maria Avenue address is the home of Calvin Champion, who since October has been charged numerous times with counts ranging from dogfighting to drug sales.
Jackson said there is a continued investigation on Champion, who Weldon police arrested last week for allegedly selling drugs in Scoco Park. It was not determined whether Champion was the one who allegedly sold Telliga the drugs, Jackson said.
"We're going to stay the course," Jackson said of 238 Maria Avenue. "We are going to continue to seek justice to stop the flow of drugs into what is a decent neighborhood. There are some good folks who live in Brandy Creek and we're going to do all we can to help them have a good neighborhood."
Asked if the police department was going to request a federal investigation into Champion, Jackson said, "We seek assistance from all authorities including Alcohol Law Enforcement and the federal government."
Calvin and his brother Robert were charged last week after an undercover operation by the Weldon Police Department.
Calvin faces charges of three counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and 6 counts of sell and deliver cocaine. He was jailed on $50,000 bond.
The brothers were charged by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department in January with multiple drug offenses.
In a raid based on an investigation in October where some 30 pit bulls were found, many with battle scars and other wounds, officers seized 70 grams of crack cocaine, a signal to agents, the Champions have allegedly been dealing in trafficking amounts, Captain Andy Jackson said at the time.
They seized $1,600 in cash, two guns, ammo and digital scales.
The brothers were arrested without incient.
There was no signs of dogs there and it is believed Calvin Champion got rid of the dogs he was supposed to look after following his October arrest, Jackson said.
The county took several dogs as evidence along with puppies and sick dogs.
It appears drug activity continued at the house following Champion’s initial release from jail in October and any more charges against him could result in the beginning of nuisance abatement proceedings, Jackson said. “We will be persistent in our pursuit for justice.”
The brothers face charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges filed resulted from the earlier narcotics investigation in the Brandy Creek community which led to a dog fighting probe.
Narcotics Agent Jamie Hardy said then it was clear some of the dogs were used in fighting because paraphernalia such as penicillin, iodine and rehydration systems were found at the scene.
One puppy was found dead on top of a kennel and one mother was trying to chew through a chain link fence to get to her pups, he said. One dog’s ear was ripped and was just beginning to heal.
Hardy said it was unclear whether dog fights were occurring in the backyard but it was clear there was traffic, judging from the discovery of leftover plastic baggies, an indication people were smoking marijuana while watching or training the dogs.
Calvin Champion was charged with three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and four felony counts reflecting that he allegedly maliciously allowed the dogs to fight, which caused severe injuries.
